The NBA Finals are on Thursday. A good three days of wait and I haven't started feeling the heat yet. My editor, bless his soul, boldly predicted sweep by the Heat, and if you keep in mind that he's the same guy who advised against watching the NBA conference finals, you know I will be there to watch his prediction getting swept.
Speaking of predictions, I'm done for the season. I think am running a negative balance.
Coming back to the current lack of excitement in the world of sports — well, that's not exactly true because the world of cricket is full of toasts and champagne — with India, the favorites recently lost the one day series 4-1 to the West Indies (don't bother if you are wondering what I'm talking about) and England managed to draw the Test series against Sri Lanka at home for which they are sure to get a stick in their backside. Can't wait to see what headlines the British tabloids come up with.
OK, this post is about LeBron. LeBron James.
Preamble:
Two weeks ago, one Monday evening, the Spurs lost and so did the Clippers. You all know about it and probably don't give a damn. Fair enough.
I headed off to the Rockies soon after the double heartbreaks began to trickle down my senses. And by the way, Canadian Rockies are cool, cooler than the cool places you plan to visit this summer. Where else on earth can you take a stroll on Glaciers and shake hands with grizzly bears? You tell me.
The disappointment came later in the day, when I stumbled on Skip Bayless whose cleverly written column on LeBron James didn't make any sense. He essentially blamed James for the loss to the Pistons, throwing his age out of the equation:
I mean, look at pictures of Jordan and Magic and Bird at the age of 21 and you'll laugh at how skinny and baby faced they look.LeBron? No, this "kid" is a man now, and he must be treated as such.
Here's something worth recalling: Einstein, in a letter to Dr. M. I. Cohen, dated March 19, 1940 wrote: "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities."
Bang.
The Gospel:
Give the kid a break. He's 21. Granted, he looks 31 but I repeat — he's 21. He's freak of nature. Admit it, appreciate what he offers and move on. Skip, if you are wondering why he doesn't have a baby face like most of us do at 21, then I suggest you consult an expert on genetics. And last time I checked, Jose Canseco wasn't seen lurking around the Cavaliers locker room.
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Article comments
1 - Natasha Hale
I love Lebron he is so hot and he knows my dad
2 - Mack Daddy
I heard that Lebron used steroids his junior year in high school. That would explain that cranium.
I like Lebron, but he uses his off arm just about every time he goes to the basket. They never call him for an offensive foul. Never. He's good, but he's way over-hyped.
3 - Q Bit
@ Natasha : Your future looks bright :-)
@ Mack Daddy:
I heard that Lebron used steroids his junior year in high school. That would explain that cranium.
That's ridiculous. Do you think media wouldn't have reported even if there's enough smell if not substance?
I like Lebron, but he uses his off arm just about every time he goes to the basket. They never call him for an offensive foul. Never. He's good, but he's way over-hyped.
Actually he gets called for offensive fouls, but you gotta be careful because it's easy to get confused in block/charge calls.
I was very skeptical myself during his rookie year when he was really good. I also thought he's overhyped and will soon fall flat on his face. Never happened.
He didn't have jump shot then, and he doesn't have one now in the true sense. The reason his FG% is up because he now makes better decisions in shot selections but his release is still quite ugly.
4 - andre yandow
i love you
5 - Dunk-A-Fella
LeBron James at 21 years of age won the All-Star game MVP. He was selected to the All-NBA First Team and will also be selected to the 2nd Annual 2006 All-Dunkadelic First Team. LeBron is doing things that Michael didn't do at the same age. LeBron is a "Beast."
6 - Q Bit
Dunk:
Let's not bring MJ into equation:he's head and shoulder above the rest, the race is not even close.
LeBron certainly is more athletic than MJ was during his formative years but his game is closer to Magic than MJ for what I have seen.
7 - steve
lebron is tight
8 - Chris
Lebron James is on steroids! how can anyone be so buff and big in high school! Everyone talks about that he s a king this and that, he's really not proving nothing. All the fans need to realize that he is be on steroids and there's no way someone so young can accomplish records just like that. You need to earn your accomplishments by NOT CHEATING. No one will ever be real as Jordan or kobe. Those two are great ball players know how to play the game.
9 - KOBE24
He looks like a killer when he was in high school. He used to bully little kids in school.
10 - NBA
It’s a MULTI BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY and Money = Corruption.
Commissioner Stern makes $10-$15 Million dollars a year COVERING IT UP.
When NBA official Tim Donaghy was sent to prison for 15 months for throwing the outcomes of the 02’ and 05’ postseasons…Stearns issued a statement the very next day saying all officials were invested and he was the only corrupt official. No professional official would throw a basketball game by himself!
Every night Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are special guests on the court. Officials give them every call while calling nothing against them. For example: The other night Lebron James drove to the whole and Al Horford Jumped straight up and blocked it clean. How many officials would call a foul with 1 second left on the clock in regulation on a guy driving to the whole?
When interviewed after the game, Al Horford said, “He drove, I jumped, they called the foul”. In other words it’s a ridiculous call and I can’t say anything about it or I’ll get fined.
Why does no one mention steroids in Basketball? 82 games is a long season! Basketball requires a tremendous amount of recovering. Steroids are the easiest solution; they are turned to in every professional sport. Why not basketball players? Stern is doing his job.
Lebron James came into the league out of high school bigger than any other small forward in the NBA. Since then he has put on about 30lbs of pure muscle. All while playing 82 games a season, preseason games, and playing for the Men’s Olympic basketball team, and promoting himself as one the world’s biggest sport icons. Have you ever seen Lebron James get tired?
The greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, always got tired and hunched over to put his hands on his knees late in games. Lebron James has not once in his career been exhausted. Is his cardio that much better than Michael Jordan’s? He shrugs powerful small forwards like Paul Pierce with the greatest of ease. He is virtually indestructible and gains muscle mass at the rate of a professional body builder. You be the judge!
11 - WebeItt
Lebron James steroids I can believe that I believe that D Wade is on them also. Look at the game on 4-29-09 and you will see the steroid rage that has started with Wade. I get tired of people saying that the NBA are to lean to use steroids. Wake up and look at the cyclist. They are in trouble with steroid use and they are smaller that the NBA. Time will tell the NBA has been covering this abuse up along with others. NBA WWF what is the difference other than the NBA doesn't get the belts. God Bless our Troops they are the real Heroes
12 - taz
who ever is saying lebron is on steroids you a lie. yaw need 2 regonize he is way better than kobe, he is stronger faster more athletic and everythang else. LEBRON IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NBA AND BELIEVE THAT. that aint no opinion that is a fact. now kobe is a ball hog he is irragent and his attitude is horrible i just dont like him how are you going to get 81 points in a game r u serious. lebron aint on no steroids he works out he runs everyday lift weights and before kobe try 2 gaurd lebron tell him to get his weight up.
13 - taz
aite listen 2 what i got 2 say kobe i hope you read dis you fuckin suck da youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu suckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
14 - yoc yoc
well I DEFINITELY THINK LEBRON IS BETTER THEN KOBE.KOBE IS A BIG BALL HOG.HE ALWAYS THINKS HE CANT BE BEAT.WHEN HE FOULS SOMEBODY HE CATCHES AN ATTITUDE WHEN HE KNOWS HE FOULED THEM.lEBRON AINT ON STEROIDS YAW JUS HATIN CUZ YAW AINT BUFF.SIMPLE AS THAT KOBE'S CRAP ALL HE CAN DO IS MAKE A FOOL OF HIMSELF BY NOT REALLY USING HIS TEAMATES.AND THE ONLY THING HE CAN DO IS SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTT!
15 - joey p
I wouldnt be shocked if we found out players like lebron and dwight howard were on steroids I mean there like perfect physical specimens.. I heard somewhere lebron didnt start lifting weights seriously until he was a few years into his nba career. If he is truly born with all these physical gifts thats great from what i can tell he will break almost every record there is before he is done but when it comes to his game its all about using his gifts he cant defend like mj or kobe he dosent have the sam offensive repertoire like mj or kobe i think he is a better passer than them though. anyway what it comes down to is how you define what being the best basketball player ever means is it the guy who was most dominant or the player who was truly the most skilled/ talented ever I honestly think kobe has got to be the least physically skilled of the three i have always felt that t mac and vince carter were more physically gifted than kobe but kobe has the best all around game and the hardest work ethic everif u listen to phil jackson compare mj and kobe he says mj was more athletic and had bigger hands also mj had a better game when driving to the hoop( which is helped by his superior athleticism) but he says kobe is a better shooter etc...as far as im concerned lebron will dominate this league until he retires and will be considered the most dominant ever but when you talk about the goat all three will be mentioned along with guys like wilt, kareem, bird, and magic. which is ok
16 - bmartz
umm joey i would do your homework before you come up with your "facts" first of all if you are accusing lebron of using steroid lets make sure we have a background knowledge of them. First of all steroids dont give you auto muscle, you still have to workout hard and lift weights. So if you say lebron didnt start lifting weights until till a few years into his career then how was this muscle gained, because you still have to workout to gain muscle with steroids. And to answer your question yes he definatly takes steroids and it looks like he knows what he is doing. He is definatly stacking his steroids and using them correctly but you can tell some small side effects like the swelling in the back of his neck. Anyways is there a Conseco out there in the NBA?? we will know soon when someone tests positive.......
17 - PrinceJames
To all those saying Lebron is better than Kobe, he's the best etc. 4 rings > 0 rings. Lebron still has no jumpshot, still commits an offensive foul that goes uncalled everytime he drives the lane, still struggles from the free throw line, and still doesn't play lockdown defense, and still turns the ball over way too much to be considered an efficient ball handler.
18 - Obi
You guys seriously need to get your facts straight. LeBron James is NOT on steroids. If you think he is on steroids then you must think the same of EVERY LINEBACKER IN THE NFL. LeBron is no thicker than any of them, he is only taller. A height of 6 feet 8 inches already shows what kind of genes a human can have, and the ability to gain weight comes with the right set of genes. So just STAAAAAP.